[Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with COVID-19 infection]

The peak of COVID-19 infections in China has just passed, and symptomatic manifestations in patients vary widely, with a minority experiencing severe morbidity and mortality. Early detection of adverse outcomes remains critical for clinical governance and prognosis in COVID-19. This review synthesized both national and international studies relevant to the prognostic evaluation of COVID-19 and summarized the prognostic implications of demographics (age and gender), specific laboratory parameters, adjunctive examination results, complications, and comorbidities in COVID-19 patients. Pertinent laboratory parameters chiefly included markers of inflammation, coagulation function, and electrolytic balance. Adjunctive examinations included thoracic CT and electrocardiographic evaluations. Major complications and comorbid conditions included thrombotic episodes, co-infections, secondary infections, chronic pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular diseases, acute and chronic renal diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular accidents. Moreover, this article discussed how these elements affected the prognosis of patients with COVID-19. By summarizing the information, it aimed to inform preventive and therapeutic strategies against COVID-19 infections in the forthcoming period.

Giant electric field-induced second harmonic generation in polar skyrmions

Electric field-induced second harmonic generation allows electrically controlling nonlinear light-matter interactions crucial for emerging integrated photonics applications. Despite its wide presence in materials, the figures-of-merit of electric field-induced second harmonic generation are yet to be elevated to enable novel device functionalities. Here, we show that the polar skyrmions, a topological phase spontaneously formed in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 ferroelectric superlattices, exhibit a high comprehensive electric field-induced second harmonic generation performance. The second-order nonlinear susceptibility and modulation depth, measured under non-resonant 800 nm excitation, reach ~54.2 pm V-1 and ~664% V-1, respectively, and high response bandwidth (higher than 10 MHz), wide operating temperature range (up to ~400 K) and good fatigue resistance (>1010 cycles) are also demonstrated. Through combined in-situ experiments and phase-field simulations, we establish the microscopic links between the exotic polarization configuration and field-induced transition paths of the skyrmions and their electric field-induced second harmonic generation response. Our study not only presents a highly competitive thin-film material ready for constructing on-chip devices, but opens up new avenues of utilizing topological polar structures in the fields of photonics and optoelectronics.

[The importance of intranasal trigeminal event-related potentials test for patients with olfactory dysfunction]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of trigeminal event-related potentials (tERPs) in different kinds of olfactory disorders (OD), and to evaluate the importance of tERPs for the patients with olfactory dysfunction. Methods: Clinical data of 314 patients with olfactory dysfunction from the Smell and Taste Clinics in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from 2015 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed, including 158 males and 156 females, aging from 6 to 78 years. The control group consisted of healthy people from medical examination center, who were gender and age matched. The clinical characteristics of OD were analyzed using Sniffin' Sticks test, olfactory event-related potentials (oERPs), tERPs and acoustic rhinometry test. SPSS 17.0 software was used to compare the difference of tERPs between the two groups, and to analyze the related factors affecting trigeminal function. Results: The ratio of tERPs presence was different in OD caused by different reasons: head traumatic OD (54.9%), post-virus infection OD (63.6%), sinonasal inflammatory OD (68.4%) and OD due to other causes (56.9%). Compared with controls, tERPs signals in OD patients showed a significant lower amplitude in the N₁ wave (all P<0.001), and lower amplitude in the P₂ wave in most OD patients (head trauma t=-4.11, P<0.001; sinonasal inflammation t=-2.04, P=0.046; others t=-2.40, P=0.020) except in OD by post-virus infection (t=-1.98, P=0.052). tERPs signals in OD patients by sinonasal inflammation showed longer latency in the N₁ wave (t=2.15, P=0.036), but this difference was not observed in other OD patients (all P>0.05). tERPs signals were significantly correlated with the Sniffin' Sticks score, deficiency of oERPs and nasal minimum cross-sectional area (all P<0.05). Conclusions: OD patients show neurophysiologic deficits in trigeminal function. The absence of tERPs or lower amplitude in N₁ waves are the important characteristics of patients with OD.

[Energy metabolism characteristic with risk of secondary bacterial infection in patients with hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver disease]

Objective: To investigate and analyze the energy metabolism characteristics and the correlation between energy metabolism and the risk of secondary bacterial infection in patients with hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver disease (HBV-CLD). Methods: Data of 183 cases admitted to the Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University from November 2017 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. 79 cases of chronic hepatitis B, 51 cases of hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis, and 53 cases of hepatitis B-related liver failure were collected. Among them patients with liver failure and decompensated liver cirrhosis were defined as severe liver disease group. The Quark RMR indirect calorimetry (COSMED Corporation, Italy) was used to exam the patients' energy metabolism condition, and the incidences of secondary bacterial infection of the patients during hospitalization were recorded. Shapiro-Wilk test and normal QQ plot were used to analyze the normal distribution of continuous variable data, which was consistent with the normal distribution and was described by mean ± standard deviation. In addition, if it did not conform to the normal distribution, the median and interquartile distance were used to describe it. Levene's test was used to test the homogeneity of variance of the data, which was consistent with the normal distribution. The t-test was used to compare the means of the two groups of samples. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the mean values of the three groups of samples, and then the Tukey's test was used to compare the two groups. If the variance was uneven or did not conform to the normal distribution, the Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Kruskal-Wallis test (H test) was used to compare the differences between the three groups of samples, and then the Dunnett's test (Z test) was used for comparison between the two groups. Categorical variable data were analyzed using chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors, and the criteria for variable inclusion (P < 0.05). Results: The respiratory entropy (RQ) and non-protein respiratory entropy (npRQ) of the three groups had statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Among them, the RQ and npRQ of the chronic hepatitis B group were higher than hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis group and hepatitis B-related liver failure group. There were statistically significant differences in fat oxidation rate (FAT%) and carbohydrate oxidation rate (CHO%) between the three groups (P < 0.05). Compared with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis group and hepatitis B-related liver failure group, chronic hepatitis B group (P < 0.05) had lower FAT% and higher CHO%. There were no statistically significant differences in the measured and predicted resting energy expenditure and protein oxidation rate (PRO%) between the three groups. The incidence of secondary bacterial infection in patients with severe liver disease was 48.39% (45/93). Compared with the non-infected group, the RQ and npRQ values ​​of the infected group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while FAT% was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that glutamyltransferase, cholesterol, and npRQ were independent risk factors for secondary bacterial infections in patients with severe liver disease. Glutamyltransferase elevation, and cholesterol and npRQ depletion had suggested an increased risk of secondary bacterial infection. Subgroup analysis of patients with hepatitis B-related liver failure also showed that compared with non-infected group, RQ value and npRQ value of secondary bacterial infection group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while FAT% was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver disease generally have abnormal energy metabolism. Low RQ, npRQ, CHO% and high FAT% are related to the severity of the disease; while npRQ reduction is related to the risk of secondary bacterial infection in patients with severe liver disease, and thus can be used as a clinical prognostic indicator.

Two-Dimensional Numerical Study of Methane-Air Combustion Within Catalytic and Non-catalytic Porous Medium

This study numerically investigates a two-dimensional physical model of methane/air mixture combustion in catalytic and non-catalytic porous media. The temperature distribution and flame stability of combustion in inert alumina (Al₂O₃) pellets and platinum (Pt) catalyst-supported alumina (Al₂O₃) pellets, were studied by changing the burner structure, operating parameters, and physical properties of alumina pellets. The simulation results indicated that the gas temperature in the inert porous medium is higher than that in a catalytic porous medium, while the solid temperature in an inert porous medium is lower than that in a catalytic porous medium. The flame moved toward the burner exit with the increasing diameter of the packed pellets at a lower equivalence ratio and moved toward upstream with the increased thermal conductivity of packed pellets. The flame location of the catalytic porous burner was more sensitive to the flame velocity and insensitive to thermal conductivity compared to the inert porous burner. The distance of the flame location to the burner inlet is almost constant with the increasing length of the porous media for both the catalytic and inert porous burner, while the relative position of the flame location moved toward the upstream.

[Establishment and evaluation of acute diquat poisoning model in Wistar rats]

Objective: To establish the Wistar rat model of acute diquat poisoning and observe the pathological damage of main target organs. Methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=6) , including one normal saline control group and five treatment groups which were separately given single-dose of intragastric administration at the doses of 46.2 mg/kg, 77.0 mg/kg, 115.5 mg/kg, 231.0 mg/kg and 346.5 mg/kg. The pathological changes of lung, liver and kidney were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The optimal dose was determined according to the general situation and pathological changes. Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into five treatment groups and one normal saline control group. Treatment groups were given single-dose of intragastric administration according to the optimal dose. The rats were sacrificed at 1st, 3rd, 7th, 11th and 14th day after exposed, respectively. The activity of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (AST) were measured by chemical colorimetry. The pathological changes of lung, liver and kidney were observed by HE and Masson staining. Results: According to 14 d survival rate, the toxic symptoms and pathological changes, 115.50 mg/kg was determined the best dose. Given single-dose of intragastric administration at the doses of 115.50 mg/kg, it was found that the serum AST and ALT activity of rats on the first and third day of exposure was significant higher than those in control group. The results of pathological examination exhibited that in 115.50 mg/kg group, the pathological changes of lung, liver and kidney began to appear on the first day of exposure, the pathological changes were the most serious on the third day, and then gradually alleviated. On the 14th day, the alveolar septum was slightly widened, with inflammatory cell infiltration, local alveolar cavity became narrow, atrophy, peripheral alveolar compensation, bronchi and alveolar septum collagen fiber proliferation; The local renal tubular epithelial cells were enlarged and necrotic; the central vein surrounding hepatic cells showed vacuolar degeneration with punctate necrosis. Conclusion: The rat model of acute diquat poisoning can be successfully induced by single-dose of intragastric administration. The condition of wistar rats and the pathological damage of the main target organs could be observed during the whole course of 115.50 mg/kg administration.

Activation of the PP2A catalytic subunit by ivabradine attenuates the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy

Hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Our previous study demonstrated that ivabradine, a selective I_f current antagonist, significantly attenuated myocardial apoptosis in diabetic mice, but the underlying mechanisms remained unknown. This study investigated the underlying mechanisms by which ivabradine exerts anti-apoptotic effects in experimental DCM. Pretreatment with ivabradine, but not ZD7288 (an established I_f current blocker), profoundly inhibited high glucose-induced apoptosis via inactivation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The effect was abolished by transfection of an siRNA targeting protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac). In streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, ivabradine treatment significantly inhibited left ventricular hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 2 (HCN2) and HCN4 (major components of the I_f current), activated PP2Ac, and attenuated NF-κB signaling activation and apoptosis, in line with improved histological abnormalities, fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction without affecting hyperglycemia. These effects were not observed in diabetic mice with virus-mediated knockdown of HCN2 or HCN4 after myocardial injection, but were alleviated by knockdown of PP2Acα. Molecular docking and phosphatase activity assay confirmed direct binding of ivabradine to, and activation of, PP2Ac. In conclusion, ivabradine may directly activate PP2Ac, leading to inhibition of NF-κB signaling activation, myocardial apoptosis, and fibrosis, and eventually improving cardiac function in experimental DCM. Taken together, the present findings suggest that ivabradine may be a promising drug for treatment of DCM.

[An analysis of coping styles and subjective well-being among nurses in the emergency treatment room of grade A tertiary hospitals in a province of China]

Objective: To investigate the coping styles and subjective well-being of nurses in the emergency treatment room of grade A tertiary hospitals in a province of China, and to explore the relationship between coping styles and subjective well-being. Methods: In January 2016, 189 nurses in the emergency treatment room were selected from 9 grade A tertiary hospitals in a province of China by random sampling. The general data, coping styles, and subjective well-being of these nurses were analyzed using the general questionnaire, coping style questionnaire, and Campbell index of well-being scale, respectively. Results: The total score of subjective well-being of nurses in the emergency treatment room was 7.54, and the subjective well-being was significantly different between the nurses with different professional titles and between those with different education levels (F=3.46 and 3.47, both P<0.05). The score of illusion coping style differed significantly across the nurses of different ages (F=5.17, P<0.05) , the scores of self-reproach, illusion, and withdrawal coping styles differed significantly across the nurses with different nursing years (F=3.99, 5.30, and 4.97, all P<0.05) , and the score of illusion coping style differed significantly across the nurses with different education levels (F=5.09, P<0.05). Most (71.9%) of the nurses in the emergency treatment room adopted the mature coping style. Subjective well-being was positively correlated with problem-solving, help-seeking, and rationalization (r=0.232, 0.018, and 0.167, all P<0.05) and negatively correlated with withdrawal (r=-0.146, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Most nurses in the emergency treatment room adopt the mature coping style. Their subjective well-being and coping style vary with different ages, nursing years, professional titles, and education levels, and the subjective well-being is relatively low.

Stress-related hormone norepinephrine induces interleukin-6 expression in GES-1 cells

In the current literature, there is evidence that psychological factors can affect the incidence and progression of some cancers. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is known to be elevated in individuals experiencing chronic stress and is also involved in oncogenesis and cancer progression. However, the precise mechanism of IL-6 induction by the stress-related hormone norepinephrine (NE) is not clear, and, furthermore, there are no reports about the effect of NE on IL-6 expression in gastric epithelial cells. In this study, we examined the effect of NE on IL-6 expression in immortalized human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1 cells). Using real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunoassay, we demonstrated that NE can induce IL-6 mRNA and protein expression in GES-1 cells. The induction is through the β-adrenergic receptor-cAMP-protein kinase A pathway and mainly at the transcriptional level. Progressive 5'-deletions and site-directed mutagenesis of the parental construct show that, although activating-protein-1 (AP-1), cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein-β (C/EBP-β), and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) binding sites are all required in the basal transcription of IL-6, only AP-1 and CREB binding sites in the IL-6 promoter are required in NE-induced IL-6 expression. The results suggest that chronic stress may increase IL-6 secretion of human gastric epithelial cells, at least in part, by the stress-associated hormone norepinephrine, and provides basic data on stress and gastric cancer progression.

Synergistic effects of cyclic strain and Th1-like cytokines on tenascin-C production by rheumatic aortic valve interstitial cells

Tenascin-C (TN-C) is a key component of extracellular matrix (ECM) and its expression process is poorly understood during rheumatic heart valvular disease (RHVD). In this study, we found that interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and TN-C concentrations in patients with RHVD were significantly higher than in normal controls. More IFN-gamma receptors and TNF receptors were found being expressed on rheumatic aortic valves interstitial cells than on non-rheumatic ones and their expression was patients' sera dependent. Antibodies neutralizing IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha could attenuate patients' sera-induced TN-C transcription by isolated rheumatic aortic valves interstitial cells. By application with different protein kinase inhibitors, we found that combined with cyclic strain, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma induced TN-C transcription through the RhoA/ROCK signalling pathway. At the same time, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was involved in TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma induced TN-C transcription. TNF-alpha also increased TN-C mRNA level by additional PKC and ERK 1/2 activation. Our finding revealed a new insight into ECM remodelling during RHVD pathogenesis and new mechanisms involved in the clinical anti-IFN-gamma and anti-TNF-alpha therapy.

Identification of a kinetically distinct activity of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat Leydig cells

Leydig cells are susceptible to direct glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of testosterone biosynthesis but can counteract the inhibition through 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD), which oxidatively inactivates glucocorticoids. Of the two isoforms of 11beta-HSD that have been identified, type I is an NADP(H)-dependent oxidoreductase that is relatively insensitive to inhibition by end product and carbenoxolone (CBX). The type I form has been shown to be predominantly reductive in liver parenchymal cells and other tissues. In contrast, type II, which is postulated to confer specificity in mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-mediated responses, acts as an NAD-dependent oxidase that is potently inhibited by both end product and CBX. The identity of the 11beta-HSD isoform in Leydig cells is uncertain, because the protein in this cell is recognized by an anti-type I 11beta-HSD antibody, but the activity is primarily oxidative, more closely resembling type II. The goal of the present study was to determine whether the kinetic properties of 11beta-HSD in Leydig cells are consistent with type I, type II, or neither. Leydig cells were purified from male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g), and 11beta-HSD was evaluated in Leydig cells by measuring rates of oxidation and reduction, cofactor preference, and inhibition by end product and CBX. Leydig cells were assayed for type I and II 11beta-HSD and MR messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and for type I 11beta-HSD protein. Leydig cell 11beta-HSD had bidirectional catalytic activity that was NADP(H)-dependent. This is consistent with the hypothesis that type I 11beta-HSD is present in rat Leydig cells. However, unlike the type I 11beta-HSD in liver parenchymal cells, the Leydig cell 11beta-HSD was predominantly oxidative. Moreover, analysis of kinetics revealed two components, the first being low a Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) NADP-dependent oxidative activity with a Km of 41.5 +/- 9.3 nM and maximum velocity (Vmax) of 7.1 +/- 1.2 pmol x min x 10(6) cells. The second component consisted of high Km activities that were consistent with type I:NADP-dependent oxidative activity with Km of 5.87 +/- 0.46 microM and Vmax of 419 +/- 17 pmol x min x 10(6) cells, and NADPH-dependent reductive activity with Km of 0.892 +/- 0.051 microM and Vmax of 117 +/- 6 pmol x min x 10(6) cells. The results for end product and CBX inhibition were also inconsistent with a single kinetic activity in Leydig cells. Type I 11beta-HSD mRNA and protein were both present in Leydig cells, whereas type II mRNA was undetectable. We conclude that the low Km NADP-dependent oxidative activity of 11beta-HSD in Leydig cells does not confirm to the established characteristics of type I and may reside in a new form of this protein. We also demonstrated the presence of the mRNA for MR in Leydig cells, and the low Km component could allow for specificity in MR-mediated responses.

Hormonal regulation of oxidative and reductive activities of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat Leydig cells

We have proposed that the 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) of Leydig cells protects against glucocorticoid-induced inhibition of testosterone (T) production. However, Leydig cells express type I 11 beta-HSD, which has been shown to be reductive in liver parenchymal cells. Because reduction would have the opposite effect of activating glucocorticoid, the present study was designed to determine: 1) whether Leydig cell 11 beta-HSD is primarily oxidative or reductive; and 2) whether oxidative and reductive activities are separately modified by known regulators of Leydig cell steroidogenic function. Leydig cells and liver parenchymal cells were purified from mature male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g BW), and 11 beta-HSD oxidative and reductive activities were measured using radiolabeled substrates and TLC of triplicate media samples from 1-h incubations immediately after cell isolation. Enzyme activities also were examined in purified Leydig cells at the end of 3 days of culture in vitro in the presence of LH (10 ng/ml), dexamethasone (DEX, 100 nM), T (50 nM), or epidermal growth factor (EGF, 50 ng/ml). In confirmation of previous reports, the reductive activity of 11 beta-HSD was predominant over oxidation in liver parenchymal cells. In contrast, 11 beta-HSD oxidative activity prevailed over reduction in Leydig cells by a ratio of 2:1. The activities of 11 beta-HSD also were analyzed in Leydig cells that were purified 7 days after endogenous glucocorticoid levels were suppressed by adrenalectomy (ADX). Oxidative activity declined in Leydig cells after ADX (22.53 +/- 1.12 pmol/h.10(6) cells, mean +/- SEM vs. 31.47 +/- 1.48 pmol/.10(6) cells in sham-operated controls, P < 0.05), whereas there was no change in reductive activity. This indicated that physiologically active corticosterone is involved in maintaining the predominance of 11 beta-HSD oxidation. When enzyme activities were analyzed in Leydig cells after 3 days of hormonal treatment in vitro, oxidation and reduction were observed to change in opposing directions. Culture of Leydig cells from sham-operated control rats with either LH, T, or EGF resulted in declines in oxidative activity from 33.35 +/- 0.77 to 28.24 +/- 1.93, 27.30 +/- 0.96, and 24.13 +/- 1.02 pmol/ h.10(6) cells (x +/- SE), respectively. However, EGF stimulated 11 beta-HSD reductive activity in cultured Leydig cells from both control (from 18.97 +/- 1.10 to 27.16 +/- 0.71 pmol/h.10(6) cells and ADX rats (from 16.51 +/- 0.75 to 23.56 +/- 0.84 pmol/h.10(6) cells). Among the hormonal treatments, only DEX increased oxidative activity and simultaneously decreased reductive activity in Leydig cells from ADX rats. This increase accentuated the predominance of oxidative activity in Leydig cells, with a ratio of oxidative to reductive activity of 4:1 after DEX treatment, compared with 2:1 in controls that were untreated. We conclude that 11 beta-HSD activity in Leydig cells is primarily oxidative. Moreover, oxidation and reduction are regulated separately by hormones.

Suppression of endogenous corticosterone levels in vivo increases the steroidogenic capacity of purified rat Leydig cells in vitro

In vitro studies have shown that corticosterone (B) directly inhibits testosterone (T) production by purified Leydig cells but does so only at high concentrations. 11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) in Leydig cells oxidatively inactivates B, lowering its effective concentration, thus protecting against the suppressive effect of glucocorticoid on T production. The aim of the present study was to assess the significance of B at physiological levels in modulating T production and 11 beta-HSd activity in Leydig cells. To determine the effects of endogenous B on Leydig cell steroidogenesis, male rats (200-250 g body wt) were adrenalectomized (ADX), while control rats were subjected to sham surgery (SHAM). Seven days after surgery: T and LH were measured in serum; T production was measured in aliquots of spent culture media from 3-h incubations of purified Leydig cells; 11 beta-HSD activity and messenger RNA was measured in purified Leydig cells. ADX rats had elevated serum T (P < 0.05) in contrast to SHAM control or ADX rats that received B replacement (1 mg/100 g body wt per day, i.p., on the final 3 days). Serum LH levels were uninfluenced by ADX, with or without B replacement (SHAM), 0.45 +/- 0.16 ng/ml; ADX, 0.35 +/- 0.13 ng/ml; ADX + B, 0.61 +/- 0.09 ng/ml, NS, P > 0.05). This indicated that the alteration of T production was induced by a mechanism that is independent of LH. ADX nearly doubled LH-stimulated T production by purified Leydig cells, from 106.3 +/- 9.3 (SHAM) to 183.2 +/- 16.7 (ADX) ng/10(6) cells.3 h (mean +/- SEM for three replications of the experiment, P < or = 0.02). T production by Leydig cells from the ADX + B treatment group was suppressed to 53% of SHAM values, indicating that B inhibits T production after ADX. The oxidative activity of 11 beta-HSD in Leydig cells exceeded its reductive activity, and both activities declined after ADX. The decline in 11 beta-HSD activities after ADX was prevented by B replacement. Similarly, the steady state levels of 11 beta-HSD messenger RNA declined in Leydig cells after ADX, and this decline was prevented by B replacement. We conclude that physiological levels of B exert a tonic, negative control directly on Leydig cell steroidogenesis and also induce intracellular 11 beta-HSD activity, thereby protecting against B-mediated inhibition of T production. By modulating the level of active glucocorticoid in Leydig cells, 11 beta-HSD is thus a significant determinant of their steroidogenic capacity.

[Transportation trends after rat renal intracapsular injection of Salvia miltiorrhizae]

The concentration of Salvia miltiorrhizae (SM) was detected at different time after renal intracapsular injection in S.D rats. It showed that SM concentration was higher in kidney than in plasma (P < 0.05). SM concentration in kidney increased gradually, it reached the peak at 24 hour and still remained in higher level at 48 hour. The SM injected in renal capsule could be passively transported to renal tissue and maintained at a high level. This result demonstrated that renal intracapsular injection could be applied as an important therapeutical method for different renal disease.

[Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic action of aloperine]

Aloperine, an alkaloid isolated from Sophora alopecuroides L, showed a marked suppressive effect on the swelling of the rat's hind paw induced by injecting carrageenin, macostatin, PGE2, histamine, 5-HT, on the rat's scald oedema induced by scalding its hind paw, and on the increased permeability of capillaries caused by histamine and the leukocytic migratory response. The swelling induced by injecting carrageenin into the hind paw of adrenolectomized rats was still significantly inhibited. Noticeably, aloperine reduced the content of PGE and histamine in the exudate formed after injecting carrageenin and dextran into the rat's hind paw, and increased the stability of red cell membranes, the activity of catalase (CAT) in hepatic tissue of mice, and reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in hepatic tissue of intoxicated mice. It had no apparent effect either on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mice serum or on the phagocytosis of the monocyte-macrophage system, or on Forssman cutaneous vasculitis and the content of immune complex in serum of rats with Arthus reaction. But it had certain inhibitory effect on the PCA reaction and significant inhibitory effect upon such allergic reaction as Arthus reaction, reversible passive Arthus reaction, the delayed hypersensitivity reaction induced by tuberculin in rats, and adjuvant arthritis.